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2022 Best Value Geological & Geophysical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k

14 Ranked Colleges
215 Degrees Awarded
Best Value Geological & Geophysical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor's For Those Making $48-$75k

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Geological & Geophysical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

In 2019-2020, 418 people earned their degree in geological and geophysical engineering, making the major the 643rd most popular in the United States.

At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 215 geological and geophysical engineering graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,303 and $24,501 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Geological & Geophysical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking looked at 14 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in geological and geophysical engineering. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent geological and geophysical engineering programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the geological and geophysical engineering program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Geological & Geophysical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k” list to help you make the college decision.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Best Value Geological & Geophysical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Geological & Geophysical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k.

Top 14 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Geological & Geophysical Engineering (Income $48-$75k)

#2 in overall quality

Out of the 14 schools in the Best Value Geological & Geophysical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wisconsin - Madison landed the #1 spot on the list. Located in Madison, Wisconsin, this large public school awarded 19 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s geological and geophysical engineering students in 2019-2020.

UW - Madison also made our “Best Geological & Geophysical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #2. The estimated yearly cost for UW - Madison is $13,227 for bachelor’s degree geological & geophysical engineering students whose families make $48-$75k.

The low student loan default rate of 0.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full UW - Madison Geological & Geophysical Engineering Report

#2

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California
#4 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Los Angeles. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Geological & Geophysical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. University of California - Los Angeles is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 2 bachelors’s geological and geophysical engineering degrees to qualified students.

UCLA also took the #4 spot in our “Best Geological & Geophysical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. It costs about $13,081 for Bachelor’s Degree Geological & Geophysical Engineering students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend UCLA.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full University of California - Los Angeles Geological & Geophysical Engineering Report

#6 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Michigan Technological University. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Geological & Geophysical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. Houghton, Michigan is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s geological and geophysical engineering degrees to 11 students in 2019-2020.

Michigan Tech not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Geological & Geophysical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It costs about $13,720 for bachelor’s degree geological & geophysical engineering students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Michigan Tech.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Full Michigan Technological University Geological & Geophysical Engineering Report

#8 in overall quality

Out of the 14 schools in the Best Value Geological & Geophysical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Missouri University of Science and Technology landed the #4 spot on the list. Located in Rolla, Missouri, this medium-sized public school awarded 16 degrees to qualified bachelors’s geological and geophysical engineering students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Missouri University of Science and Technology, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Geological & Geophysical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. It costs about $13,058 for bachelor’s degree geological & geophysical engineering students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Missouri University of Science and Technology.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low student loan default rate of 3.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Missouri University of Science and Technology Geological & Geophysical Engineering Report

#3 in overall quality

Out of the 14 schools in the Best Value Geological & Geophysical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, The University of Texas at Austin landed the #5 spot on the list. Austin, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s geological and geophysical engineering degrees to 4 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UT Austin, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Geological & Geophysical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend The University of Texas at Austin is $15,757 for bachelor’s degree geological & geophysical engineering students whose families make $48-$75k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full UT Austin Geological & Geophysical Engineering Report

#6

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota
#7 in overall quality

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Geological & Geophysical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is a large public school situated in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It awarded 7 bachelors’s geological and geophysical engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our bachelor’s degree geological & geophysical engineering students whose families make $48-$75k list, UMN Twin Cities has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Geological & Geophysical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UMN Twin Cities is $12,556 for bachelor’s degree geological & geophysical engineering students whose families make $48-$75k.

The low student loan default rate of 2.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Geological & Geophysical Engineering Report

#7

University of Mississippi

University, Mississippi
#5 in overall quality

University of Mississippi came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geological & Geophysical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Ole Miss is a public institution located in University, Mississippi. The school has a large population, and it awarded 35 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Ole Miss, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Geological & Geophysical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Ole Miss is $17,415 for Bachelor’s Degree Geological & Geophysical Engineering students whose families make $48-$75k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Full Ole Miss Geological & Geophysical Engineering Report

#13 in overall quality

With a ranking of #8, University of Alaska Fairbanks did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geological & Geophysical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Fairbanks, Alaska, this medium-sized public school awarded 9 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s geological and geophysical engineering students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UAF, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Geological & Geophysical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. It costs about $10,729 for Bachelor’s Degree Geological & Geophysical Engineering students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Read full report on Geological & Geophysical Engineering at University of Alaska Fairbanks

#9

University of North Dakota

Grand Forks, North Dakota
#9 in overall quality

University of North Dakota ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Geological & Geophysical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Grand Forks, North Dakota, this fairly large public school awarded 7 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s geological and geophysical engineering students in 2019-2020.

UND did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Geological & Geophysical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of North Dakota is $15,109 for Bachelor’s Degree Geological & Geophysical Engineering students whose families make $48-$75k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Geological & Geophysical Engineering at UND

#10

University of Utah

Salt Lake City, Utah
#12 in overall quality

University of Utah came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geological & Geophysical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. U of U is a large school located in Salt Lake City, Utah that handed out 7 bachelors’s geological and geophysical engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

U of U not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Geological & Geophysical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Utah is $14,501 for Bachelor’s Degree Geological & Geophysical Engineering students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.

Read full report on Geological & Geophysical Engineering at University of Utah

#11

Colorado School of Mines

Golden, Colorado
#1 in overall quality

Colorado School of Mines ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Geological & Geophysical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. Mines is a public institution located in Golden, Colorado. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 55 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our bachelor’s degree geological & geophysical engineering students whose families make $48-$75k list, Mines has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Geological & Geophysical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Mines is $21,449 for Bachelor’s Degree Geological & Geophysical Engineering students whose families make $48-$75k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full Colorado School of Mines Geological & Geophysical Engineering Report

#11 in overall quality

Montana Technological University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geological & Geophysical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Montana Tech is a public institution located in Butte, Montana. The school has a small population, and it awarded 11 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Montana Tech not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Geological & Geophysical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend Montana Technological University is $14,821 for bachelor’s degree geological & geophysical engineering students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full Montana Tech Geological & Geophysical Engineering Report

#14 in overall quality

University of Nevada - Reno came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geological & Geophysical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. University of Nevada - Reno is a public institution located in Reno, Nevada. The school has a large population, and it awarded 14 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UNR did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Geological & Geophysical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It costs about $14,947 for Bachelor’s Degree Geological & Geophysical Engineering students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend UNR.

Full University of Nevada - Reno Geological & Geophysical Engineering Report

#10 in overall quality

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geological & Geophysical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #14. South Dakota School of Mines and Technology is a public institution located in Rapid City, South Dakota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 15 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

SD Mines also took the #10 spot in our “Best Geological & Geophysical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. It costs about $20,299 for bachelor’s degree geological & geophysical engineering students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend SD Mines.

The low student loan default rate of 4.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Geological & Geophysical Engineering at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

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Notes and References

References

  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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